A dark intriguing magic meets reality with moral ambiguity theme told in a coming-of-age and self discovery premise. I followed the protagonist; a 16-year-old runaway boy—emotionally abuse and mistreated at home—who finds refuge at his neighborhood bakery that unexpectedly make and sell bunch of limited, tailor-make magical pastries to their customers.

Divided into chapters that centered on particular baked goods—each with their own potions and ingredients (recipes included)—I was brought to uncover the tale that attached to these pastries (caution: for every purchase there’ll be a catch and consequences due) that somehow opened up the young boy’s perspective to life; on seeing the good vs bad of choices and how when a wish fulfilled, the magic used to change things can go too gritty and spookily backfired— bit intense and so emotionally haunting, I was startled with the aftermath. As alluring as the magic can be and was seen to easily fix a problem it also shown that one’s shortcut desire came with a responsibility and never too simple.

The storytelling was addictive and the whole trauma, grief and loss premises as well the young boy’s backstory were so well crafted and explored— straightforwardly neat with it-hits-reality depth. I enjoyed the characterization for the gruffly wizard baker and the blue-bird girl, also the worldbuilding of the mysterious bakery and its enormous oven. Few thrown in dark-ish insights of fairytales ref in between (the mentioned of Hansel and Gretel was my fav) that added a reflective charm to the plot. Truly loved the young boy’s dynamic and how I get that two inventive last chapter to choose; a choice of a yes and no that grippingly served me with both surreal and comfort at the end. 4.5/5*

(Thank you Pansing Distribution for the gifted review copy!)